People’s Journal – ‘Low rent’ housing in China impresses Bongbong

SENATOR Ferdinand R. “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. cited as a complete community life a “low rent” housing project in Guangzhou City, China, which caters to the poor and the disabled and elderly as well.

Marcos made the assessment after visiting the project located at the center of the city in Guandong province, noting that the shelter clusters has a community center to provide for the social needs of the residents, “which clearly indicated that the project was not only shelter-based but also focused on providing a total community life.”

Marcos is currently in China on a five-day official trip (May 31-June 4) to attend the June 3-4 “China-Southeast Asia People’s High-Level Dialogue” in the City of Nanning as chair of the Senate committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement upon the invitation of the China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE) based in Beijing and Guangzhou.

“The way the project was designed showed the transition from the mainstream to the disenfranchised, focusing on the services needed by the elderly and the young, the poor, as well as the sick and the disabled, to include the services of a medical doctor and even lawyers,” he said.

The low rent housing project is composed of both high and medium rise building clusters with each unit measuring an approximately 40-square-meter living area, a separate bedroom, dressing room, a kitchen and a toilet.

Marcos visited the residence of Chen Linzhen, a disabled elderly woman, who warmly welcomed him to her unit. She requested to be photographed with the senator and asked for his autographed message on her guest book.

During his visit to the housing project, the senator also observed the strong spirit of volunteerism among students who render services to the residents of the shelter project for a low compensation and subsidy from the government. For their work, the students also earn school or academic credits.